Is eggplant looking a little scrawny to you this season? Don’t worry, it’s supposed to look like that.

That’s because it’s Japanese eggplant, which is becoming increasingly common at farmers’ markets and is typically longer, thinner and a bit more corkscrew-shaped than the eggplant you may be used to. And while it may look strange, it still shares the same nutritional benefits that have made the purple plant a popular mealtime choice.

The food: It’s cooked like a vegetable, but eggplant is actually a fruit (it’s part of the same nightshade family that includes the other confusing is-it-a-fruit-or-a-vegetable plant, the tomato). In the U.S., eggplant tends to appear mostly in Italian or Mediterranean dishes, but Southern and Southeast Asian cuisines have long incorporated the fruit as well. Japanese eggplant is noticeably less plump than its more familiar pear-shaped cousin, and it’s in season from July to October.

The trend: Eggplant is valued for the variety of ways it can be cooked, and Japanese eggplant is even more versatile because it has a much thinner skin and is practically seedless. The sponginess of its fleshy inside drinks in seasonings like soy sauce, miso and ginger.

The nutrients: Raw eggplant is very low in calories, saturated fat and sodium, with only 20 calories per cup. It’s a high source of dietary fiber and is packed with vitamins and minerals, including vitamin C, folate, potassium and manganese. “Leave the skin on this vegetable because it will add fiber to your diet, causing you to remain full for longer periods of time while regulating your digestive system,” says Tracy Lockwood, a registered dietitian at F-Factor Nutrition.

Along with other nightshade plants like bell peppers and potatoes, Japanese eggplants also contain antioxidants like nasunin, which is thought to protect cell membranes in the brain.

Alexandra Sifferlin

The preparation: When it comes to picking the right Japanese eggplant — and storing it correctly — there are a couple of things to keep in mind. If you’re grabbing a few from a farmers’ market, it’s likely that they were picked In the past 24 hours, so the stems should be firm and rough. But be careful: any leaves remaining on the stems are covered in small thorns. Japanese eggplant doesn’t have the same shelf life as other eggplant varieties, so use it soon after purchasing. If it feels firm when you buy it, you can keep it in your fridge for about a week.

And here’s an advantage of the Japanese variety: its thin skin doesn’t need to be peeled. There are many ways to cook it — try grilling, sautéing or baking thin slices. But the way you cook eggplant — and what you add to give it flavor — can change its nutritional profile. (See recipe below.) “Obviously, fried would not be my first choice,” says Keri Gans, a registered dietitian and author of The Small Change Diet. “And if cooked with a lot of soy sauce, the sodium content will increase greatly.”

The taste: Japanese eggplant is milder and less bitter than other varieties. Since it’s extra spongy, don’t overdo the marinades — a little goes a long way. “Because it’s very absorbent, sautéing with lemon juice or balsamic vinegar instead of olive oil can save your nearly 200 calories,” advises Lockwood.

The takeaway: While it’s in season, Japanese eggplant can be a tasty and versatile addition to a light summer meal, and its smaller size makes it easier to experiment with different cooking and seasoning techniques. We’re already big fans of eggplant — we named it one of the healthiest foods to eat. Don’t believe us? Try the recipe below for eggplant pizza from Janet Brill, a registered dietitian and fitness and nutrition expert.

This recipe makes two 12-in. pizzas. One pound of store-bought whole-wheat pizza dough made with olive oil can be substituted for homemade dough if desired. If King Arthur Flour is not available in your area, substitute 1 cup whole-wheat flour mixed with 1¾ cups unbleached all-purpose flour.

In a food processor fitted with plastic blade, blend the flour, yeast and salt. In a 2-cup measuring cup, combine the water, olive oil and honey. With the food processor running, add the water-oil mixture and blend until the flour forms a ball of dough. Process for one minute to knead the dough. The dough will be a bit sticky; if it’s too wet, add up to ½ cup more flour. Spray a bowl with nonstick cooking spray. Put the dough into the prepared bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place for about one hour, until the dough doubles in size.

In a large skillet over medium heat, heat 2 tbsp. olive oil. Add the onion, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove to a bowl. In the same skillet, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil. Add the eggplant and salt and cook, stirring, for two minutes. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for five minutes to soften the eggplant. Uncover and cook for two to three more minutes to remove any excess moisture. Remove to a bowl. In the same skillet, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil. Add arugula and cook, tossing the arugula until it is wilted. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

To assemble the pizzas, preheat the oven (and a baking stone if desired) to 425°F. Punch down the dough and divide into two pieces. Set on a lightly floured surface and cover with a towel to rest for five minutes. For each pizza, sprinkle a baking sheet with 1 tsp. cornmeal. Roll one piece of dough into a 12-in. circle and place on the prepared baking sheet. Brush dough with 1 tbsp. olive oil. Distribute ½ cup caramelized onions, ½ cup cooked eggplant and ¼ cup arugula on the dough. Sprinkle each with 2 tbsp. shredded cheese. Repeat with other piece of dough. Bake the pizzas for about 15 minutes until the crust is lightly browned. Cut each pizza into eight slices.

caramelized onions, ½ cup cooked eggplant and ¼ cup arugula on the dough. Sprinkle each with 2 tbsp. shredded
cheese. Repeat with other piece of dough. Bake the pizzas for about 15
minutes until the crust is lightly browned. Cut each pizza into eight
slices.

I would like to
thank you for the efforts you have made in writing this article. I am hoping
the same best work from you in the future as well. In fact your creative
writing abilities has inspired me to start my own BlogEngine blog now. Really
the blogging is spreading its wings rapidly. Your write up is a fine example
of it.best vitamin c serum for face

Great
post full of useful tips! My site is fairly new and I am also having a hard
time getting my readers to leave comments. Analytics shows they are coming to
the site but I have a feeling “nobody wants to be first”.
بهترین روغن ماساژ بدن

I would
love to stop by. But, I think it might have to wait until this summer. I did
not know that Serlkay had ever expanded its size. I must say that a succesful
family owned business in this day and age is a very refreshing sight! As well
as this is a very refreshing site!
girlsdoporn

wow, great, I was wondering how
to cure acne naturally. and found your site by google, learned a lot, now i’m a
bit clear. I’ve bookmark your site and also add rss. keep us updated.john deere steering wheel knob

Mr. Glen Erikson founded Nearctic Nickel Mines, Inc. in 1995 and has been its President since January 24, 2008. Mr. Erikson has been the President of Ungava Mines Inc. and President of Ungava Mineral Exploration Inc. since March 8, 2011 Click here

Truly, this article is really one of
the very best in the history of articles. I am a antique ’Article’ collector
and I sometimes read some new articles if I find them interesting. And I found
this one pretty fascinating and it should go into my collection. Very good
work!Learn more

I am overwhelmed by your post with
such a nice topic. Usually I visit your blogs and get updated through the
information you include but today’s blog would be the most appreciable. Well
done!Learn more

After
conducting my own investigative Girlfriend Activation System review,
every guy who has ever been confused, nervous, or frustrated around
women he likes will benefit from GFAS, but it's my opinion that the
program is best suited for guys who are looking for a long-term
relationship with just one special girl.

starring Rudolf Hrusinsky (better known as good soldier Svejk) as the cremator in the late 30s who becomes obssessed with purifying the world, reincarnation, the Dalai Lama and then recruited by the Nazis for Auschwitz. One of my favorites. Jom Aktifkan Mykad

for five minutes to soften the eggplant. Uncover and cook for two to
three more minutes to remove any excess moisture. Remove to a bowl. In
the same skillet, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil. Add arugula and cook, tossing
the arugula until it is wilted. Remove from the skillet and set aside.

I thought about things like: why such information is for free here? Because when you write a book then at least on selling a book you get a percentage. Thank you and good luck on informing people more about it!girlsdoporn

Some antioxidant supplements may promote disease and increase mortality Tirilazad mesylate is an Anti-oxidants
steroid derivative that was designed to inhibit the lipid peroxidation
observed and believed to play a key role in neuronal death in stroke and
head injury.